Since arriving in Hamilton 25 years ago, Sayeeda Bano has devoted many hours of
voluntary service to community groups throughout the city.
Described as “an honest, caring, cheerful person who works tirelessly to help people from all
walks of life,” Sayeeda makes a widespread contribution to Waikato ethnic communities and
faith communities – she is a member of numerous organisations, often serving on the
executive committees or advisory boards, and is also a Justice of the Peace.
Over the past eight to 10 years, Sayeeda has held various positions on the Waikato Ethnic
Council, now known as the Multicultural Council, and is currently a vice-president.
She has been an active member of the Muslim community for more than 20 years and has
participated in a number of local and national programmes for Muslim women.
Extremely passionate about women’s rights, Sayeeda is a foundation member of Shama
– Hamilton Ethnic Women’s Centre Trust, which promotes integration with the ethnic women
and the wider community.
She’s been involved with a number of major cultural festivals including Diali, Navratri and Eid;
has actively assisted with the Char Bargh Garden project at Hamilton Gardens; and through her
work as a community radio broadcaster has helped to spread messages of peace and harmony
throughout our communities.
During her 16 years with the Rotary Club of Hamilton East, Sayeeda has served on the
Community, Vocational, International and Public Relations committees, and has been pivotal in
the coordination of speakers, meetings and international exchanges.
She also served for a period on the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Board, a national
organisation working on community-orientated research projects.
Whenever there is a need in the community, Sayeeda devotes her time selflessly to the cause
and is always willing to go the extra mile – this devotion to her community makes her a very
worthy recipient of this Civic Award.
For more than four decades David Campbell has been giving back to the city he calls home.
An active Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Frankton for 40 years, Dave has held all the officer
positions within the club, including president, during this time.
Often used as a mentor or ‘think tank’ for projects, Dave remains keenly involved with a number
of key projects – championing the youth and community activities within the wider club projects,
and ensuring that the annual Summer Science School attendees are supported through the
nomination process and financially assisted. For eight years he was also the primary organiser of
the ‘Fit for Life Relay’ – an extremely successful event which would have continued had it not
been for changes in Transit regulations and associated costs.
Through his actions and deeds Dave has made an enduring mark on the city, and in recognition of
this his peers awarded him Rotary’s highest honour in 2005, a Paul Harris Fellowship.
A former headmaster at Fraser High School, during this time Dave completely restructured
the course programme and successfully instilled a sense of pride and loyalty in the students –
creating a strong, united school which still holds this legacy today.
In the early 1970s he also became heavily involved with rowing – with his enthusiasm at the
helm, Fraser High School’s rowing programme went from strength to strength, with the school
ultimately going on to win the Maadi Cup.
Long after he retired from Fraser High School, Dave and his wife Nancy were the driving force
in the Waikato Bay of Plenty Secondary School Rowing Committee which organises the Maadi
Cup regattas. The organisation of the Maadi Cup in 1997 was a real achievement for the region
and a true testament to Dave’s leadership and the high regard in which he is held by rowers,
supporters and officials alike.
Dave’s long involvement with the sport has made him a ‘master in regatta problem-solving’ and
he is known to find creative ways of tackling issues – once running all of the regatta computers
off his motor home’s generator in order to keep racing going during a power cut.
Dave Campbell is a man of enthusiasm and drive, displaying boundless energy and
commitment and outstanding professional leadership, and it is our honour to present him with
this Civic Award today.
As a Friends of Hamilton Zoo volunteer, David Croucher has devoted over three-thousand
hours to improving the visitor experience, as well as enhancing the lives of the animals that
reside there.
A member of the host committee, David works and meets regularly with zoo management, and
also acts as a mentor and trainer for new hosts. He is often invited by community groups to speak
about the roles that hosts play at the zoo, as well as the role of Friends of the Zoo.
Renowned for his excellent communication skills, his ability to build a rapport with anyone and
his wonderful sense of humour, Dave’s approach is appreciated and admired by visitors to the
zoo. Tasked with helping to enhance the visitor experience, Dave also calls on his engineering
background and design and construction skills to take this to the next level – building everything
from seats, to a viewing platform by the giraffe’s enclosure to enable visitors to view these
fascinating animals all year round.
Dave also taps into his skill base to make improvements for the animals themselves – creating
platforms for the tigers, feeding poles, cat sleeping boxes, Kune Kune pig shelters and other
behavioural enrichment tools.
Through his involvement in the Royal Society of New Zealand BP Challenge, Dave is passing
on his knowledge and advice to the younger generations – guiding school students as they are
tasked with designing animal enrichment item for themselves.
Dave has certainly made an impact on the lives of the visitors and animals at Hamilton Zoo, and
we recognise his selfless efforts with this Civic Award today.
Christine East and Margaret Holroyd’s strong partnership has seen the pair become key drivers
in the establishment of the new hydrotherapy pool at Waterworld.
Together Christine and Margaret researched, wrote and presented a submission to the Hamilton
City Council in 2004 that set the platform for the project. They have worked tirelessly, raising
funds for the capital to build the $2.1 million pool and liaising with the project’s architects and
working party to ensure the design of the pool has all the features required to enable the most
severely challenged accessibility to the swimming pool.
When complete, the pool will be equipped with specialty equipment – making it one of the
most up-to-date hydrotherapy pools in the country and an amenity that everyone in the city can
be proud of.
At 17 years of age Christine East developed acute rheumatoid arthritis and over the years spent
significant periods of time in rehabilitation. It was during one of these periods at Queen Elizabeth
Hospital in Rotorua that Chris first became aware of the benefits of exercise in hot water. After
attending exercise classes at a motel leisure pool in Hamilton, Chris’ dissatisfaction with the poor
conditions prompted her to join with Margaret and begin researching the need for a purpose-built
hydrotherapy pool in the city.
The pair has presented submissions to the city’s annual plan about this issue every year since
2004 and arguments for this much-needed community facility were so persuasive that the
Council gave their unanimous support to the project.
When the Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Charitable Trust was formulated in August 2005
Christine was a founding trustee. The first major fundraiser was the photographic essay ‘African
Wildlife; Through the Eyes of a Kiwi’ – a book complied by Christine’s late husband Dr Rod
East, who recognised the benefit that his wife gained from exercise in the warm water of the
hydrotherapy pool that he decided to develop the book about his travels in Africa as a fundraiser
for the cause.
Following Rod’s death the cost of publishing the book was funded by a group of their friends
and all the proceeds from the sale of the books are donated to the fundraising campaign to build
the Hydrotherapy Pool.
So often people like Christine who give their time voluntarily and are strong advocates for a
community project go unacknowledged, so it is with great pleasure that we see her efforts
recognised today with this Civic Award.
Michael Easther
Michael Easther has a long history of giving generously to the community – as a GP, writer,
hypnotherapist, cryptic crossword puzzle writer, actor and theatre performer. In particular, his
unpaid contribution to local theatre is renowned and he is deserving of many accolades after a
lifetime service to theatre and performing arts.
Michael has been in over 100 shows in the Waikato and has performed with nine different
societies, in addition to being the patron of Playbox and vice president of Hamilton
Operatic Society.
In his role as patron of Playbox Hamilton, Michael has been a wonderful supporter of theatre.
Regardless of whether he is starring in the production or not, he attends every show and is always
involved with the set-up and pack-down of the props, furniture and sets – certainly no mean feat
when you are in your 80s.
In the 27 years that Riverlea has been operating, Michael’s involvement has spanned many
capacities and he is always quick to take newcomers to the theatre under his wing. He has
appeared in about 30 shows directed by students from Wintec and Waikato University, and has
also done two voice-overs for stage craft productions for Hamilton Girls’ High School. He is
been pivotal in inspiring children and high school groups to perform before an audience – a
great skill to have and to teach others.
Over the years Michael has also helped plan and perform in many large city events, such as
the annual Carols by Candlelight at Hamilton Lake, celebrations for visiting representations
from sister cities, royal visits and other special occasions.
As if his extensive contribution to theatre was not enough, Michael has also published two books
and written a weekly ‘flim-flam’ for the Waikato Times for the past 11 years.
The years of pleasure and service he has given to the people of Hamilton and the greater
Waikato region makes Michael a very deserving recipient of this civic award.
Gillian Gorrick
In the 1970s Gillian, then charge physiotherapist at Waikato Hospital, worked diligently to
establish the Waikato Crippled Children’s Society toy library. From these small beginnings the
toy library concept has grown, with over 220 toy libraries being established in towns and cities
throughout the country.
Each toy library shares a common philosophy that play is a child’s work and that playing with
toys is a fun way for children to develop skills to negotiate the world.
In recognition of the ground work she laid for the movement, Gillain was made a Life Member
of the Toy Library Federation of New Zealand in 1982.
In 2004 she was asked by the Federation to open the Cambridge Toy Library Conference as a
motivational speaker, to mark 30 years of toy libraries in New Zealand.
Gillian is now retired but has retained a strong and practical connection with the toy library
she founded.
She also supports the community voluntarily in a number of other ways – proceeds from the
toy bags she makes contribute to fundraising for the Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool and she
works voluntarily for Presbyterian Social Services to continue to assist disadvantaged families.
Gillian Gorrick’s vision for the children of this country and her willingness to share her passion
and skills beyond her own community makes her an extremely worthy of this Civic Award we
present today.
Margaret Holroyd
Together Christine and Margaret researched, wrote and presented a submission to the Hamilton
City Council in 2004 that set the platform for the project. They have worked tirelessly, raising
funds for the capital to build the $2.1 million pool and liaising with the project’s architects and
working party to ensure the design of the pool has all the features required to enable the most
severely challenged accessibility to the swimming pool.
When complete, the pool will be equipped with specialty equipment – making it one of the
most up-to-date hydrotherapy pools in the country and an amenity that everyone in the city can
be proud of.
During her time working in the Rehabilitation Unit at Waikato Hospital Margaret Holroyd,
who is a retired social worker, found there were many people like her who needed to keep
themselves as fit as possible to cope with their disabilities. It was with this insight that she
identified a real need and strong support for the development of a new hydrotherapy pool in the
city.
When the Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Charitable Trust was formulated in August 2005,
Margaret felt that her own health would limit her ability to act as a trustee so declined the role.
However this has not limited her input and support – her own background in health and personal
challenges has made her well aware of the benefits of exercise in warm water, and she is a
formidable and passionate advocate for this project.
She has continued to promote interest in the Hydrotherapy Pool Project, using her own computer
to set up a large database of contacts and potential users and keeps them well informed of
progress.
Margaret remains committed to the vision that the hydrotherapy pool will be a community facility
that promotes wellness and will be accessible to all who wish to keep active and healthy by
exercising in warm water.
Kathy Moody
Kathy Moody has taken a lead role in establishing and developing one of the city’s
much-loved sporting facilities.
The current club president of Hamilton Roller Skating Club, Kathy has been involved with the
club for more than 30 years and was awarded life membership in 1990 in recognition of her
outstanding contribution to the club and the community in general.
A firm believer in the benefits of roller skating, Kathy has worked tirelessly to make skating
available to a wide range of people. When Skateworld closed, Kathy campaigned for a
roller-skating rink in Melville Park – using her impressive skills of persuasion to secure the
support of park users, members of the local community, Hamilton City Council and funders.
In 1998 her vision came to bear and the club opened a facility for use by club skaters and the
wider community with low-cost skating sessions targeting families and young people. Over time
the slab grew, making a larger rink; club rooms were built; the facility was roofed; and security
cameras were installed.
Kathy has personally overseen both planning, funding and construction of all of the stages of
the rink, however her efforts to upgrade and protect the facility by roofing and enclosing the
rink in 2010 was a clear milestone for the club and the local community.
Today the rink is a major asset to the neighbourhood – it encourages healthy, family-based
activities, provides a central focus to the park and regularly attracts participants from as far away
as Auckland.
Through her hard work Kathy has created a last legacy for the city, and we recognise her efforts
today with this Civic Award.
While many people struggle to find the time and energy to devote to just one area of the
community, Paul Mitchell has made special contributions to three – theatre, special education and
tertiary education.
Theatre is a deep ongoing vocation for Paul – he began performing and doing backstage work in
1990 with the Hamilton Operatic Society and in 1998 he was elected as chairman of the board –
taking on the administration and production responsibilities of an ailing organisation.
Using his business acumen, networking and interpersonal skills seasoned with a strong dash of
humour, he helped restore Hamilton Operatic Society to a successful, financially viable
organisation, while fulfilling its constitutional purpose of “bringing good theatre to the
community”.
Paul’s ability to engage business and community support, recognise and nurture amateur talent,
integrate professional talent and make people feel valued achieved the delicate balance of
keeping amateur thespians happy while engaging community interest with popular shows.
Paul’s other commitments have taken more of his time but he still actively volunteers as Society
president where his experience provides a sounding board for members and guides succession
planning.
Since 2003 Paul has also given over 100 hours per year to serve as a presentation coach and
business advisor to Students in Free Enterprise, a student club at the university which undertakes
social enterprise projects in the community and competes both nationally and internationally by
presenting their projects to business leaders.
Our local teams have been so successful that they have undertaken other nationwide
competitions, and have sought and received Paul’s training support for these events as well.
Paul is also heavily involved with special needs education and research, which is
described as ‘both his professional vocation and greatest purpose’.
Paul moved into the field of special education in 1995 after he stopped being a primary school
principal. Initially working with children with special learning needs for two years Paul became a
Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) and has worked at several schools
throughout the region. Since being one of the founding team who created Kairaranga, a
peer-reviewed journal for those working with people with special needs, Paul has volunteered as
the editor and sourced funding to keep the journal operating.
Those who have worked with Paul Mitchell in any of the areas he is passionate about will be
aware of the positive impact he has made on our community. For this, we present him with this
Civic Award today.
Tureiti Moxon has lived in Hamilton with her family for over 23 years and she has played a
major role in supporting developing community organisations. An inspirational leader that has
led by example, she is driven by her social conscience and belief for equity for all.
Tureiti has worked in the community for many years, heavily involved with Te Kohanga Reo
education, working as a coordinator and establishing many Kohanga Reo over the North Island in
the 1980s and early 1990s. She is a founding member and CEO of Toioroa Primary Health
Organisation Coalition and a member of the Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust (family Start and
Paft).
Tureiti is a Trustee on Te Rununga o Kirikiriroa Maori Authority, and a member of the Social
Services Tribunal, the Waikato DHB Iwi Maori Council and St Peter’s Anglican Cathedral.
She was a member of the COG’s Committee and a Trustee for Trust Waikato for six years, as
well as a director for Habitat for Humanity.
Tureiti is currently managing director of Te Kohao Health, a non-profit charitable company
focused on the provision of very low and no cost health and social services to high need
populations in Hamilton. In this role she has seen Te Kohao health achieve accreditation status
with the NZ College of GPs and Quality Health NZ. Leading by example, Tureiti herself
achieved accreditation by the Institute of Directors and is currently the only Maori accredited
director in the Waikato.
Tureiti has led a multimillion dollar fundraising campaign for Te Kohao Health, resulting in the
construction of a Community Health and Wellness Centre – a facility which offers excellent
medical and support services that are both accessible and affordable to families. The growth of
the Toioroa PHO is attributed to Tureiti’s commitment and dedication.
The vision and aspiration of Tureiti, consistently striving for positive outcomes throughout the
whole community, has resulted in overall wellbeing for people in the community. Her efforts
make her a truly worthy of the Civic Award she receives today.
Since moving to Hamilton over five decades ago, Tom Purcell has devoted much of his time,
knowledge and skills to helping others within the community.
Tom practised as a lawyer for many years before retiring about a decade ago. He had a
long-term active involvement in public speaking and the public service functions of the
Jaycees Association in Hamilton in the 1960s.
Tom often provided pro bono legal advice to people of modest means very quietly through his
involvement with the Catholic Church. There are no records of this work – Tom would not wish
to be recognised for his generosity – as his motivation was a genuine concern for those less
fortunate than himself.
Many years ago Tom also overcame personal addiction and turned his life around – as you
would expect from Tom, over a long period of time he has also helped several others do the
same.
Tom has been active in the St Vincent de Paul Society as President of the St Columba’s Vincent
de Paul conferences and was actively involved in the community work as well, particularly in
Frankton. He provided advice, food and housing, and visited people when they needed resolution
for their problems. Tom still has a continuing commitment to the Frankton branch, despite recent
health issues.
Tom is also involved in ‘Loaves and Fishes’, a programme which provides lunch for needy
children in our city’s primary and secondary schools.
His faithful service within his church was recognised this year with the awarding of the
Benemerenti Medal by Pope Benedict XVI. This medal is conferred upon those who have
exhibited long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church, their families and community.
Tom is a man of innate warmth, modesty and integrity. Blessed with an irreverent sense of
humour which he shares abundantly, Tom Purcell is an honourable man, committed to serving his
community and is extremely worthy of this Civic Award.
Nancy Rounthwaite was a long history of supporting the city’s migrants and refugees through
her involvement with English Language Partners Waikato Inc. (formally ESOL Home Tutors).
Over 14 years Nancy has made an outstanding contribution to the volunteer organisation;
supporting migrant adult learners in one-to-one tutorials and facilitating group learning.
She has worked with 20 learners in a one-on-one setting over her time with the organisation,
visiting them each week and supporting their individual language learning needs. Most of these
learners were at an intermediate level of English proficiency or less when they started, and she
has always supported them until they were ready to move on. Records show that some learners
received more than five years service from Nancy in her volunteer role.
As well as tutoring an individual learner each week, Nancy has a small group of learners in her
home for conversation practise each Wednesday morning as part of her volunteer contribution.
Her outstanding service has also seen her spend eight years facilitating a Social English Group
each week with a team of volunteer assistants. She has formed a team of three or four assistants
and has met at a number of venues in Hamilton – the popularity of the groups meant they were
constantly out-growing venues and having to move on to bigger locations.
Hundreds of adult learners have attended these groups over the years where they have an
opportunity to make new friends while learning English in a communicative setting. Among the
special skills that Nancy brings to the group is her inclusive manner where every one is
appreciated and supported in their desire to communicate well in English. She encourages
learners to ‘take risks’ and not to be afraid of ‘making mistakes’. Her warm and open manner,
her willingness to listen carefully to her learners have supported and empowered a great number
of new residents.
Nancy has a great sense of humour and a willingness to share – she is always there to provide
sensible advice in all situations, reassuring new residents and assisting where she can with their
new lives.
She is described as a “treasure”, whose dedicated service to so many new residents in Hamilton
makes her very deserving of this Civic Award.
Jan Silvester is an exceptional person who has given many hours of service supporting the
people of Hamilton.
Regarded as a ‘people’s person’, Jan is involved in numerous community groups.
She has shown strong leadership and commitment in her service to the people of our community.
Over the years she has been heavily involved with school PTAs and boards; was an executive
officer at Lifeline; is an active member of the Chartwell Co-operating Parish and since 2001 has
been a trustee on the Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust. She is currently a volunteer with the
Hamilton Area Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) and has been with this organisation since 2004.
Jan is presently past-chairperson of the Management Committee of the CAB, having been the
chairperson and co-chairperson in the previous two years. During Jan’s time as chairperson she
put in many hours of work to set up the bureau’s new agency which opened in Garden Place in
2010. She worked tirelessly with Council to physically set up the working space and then
undertook extra rostered duties at the agency, going well beyond the usual once a week working
period that volunteers commit to. Jan has also done this for an agency at the University of
Waikato in 2006 – working additional hours to cover gaps in the roster.
When dealing with clients of the CAB, Jan is non-judgemental and empathetic. She is a warm,
outgoing person, who shows genuine concern for people – providing caring support for an
organisation which empowers people.
She has also been involved with the Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust (HMS Trust) since
its inception approximately nine years ago. Having physically helped move the Migrant
Resource Centre from cramped premises in Knox Street to its present location in Boundary
Road, Jan continues to work tirelessly for the Trust, currently as minutes secretary.
As well as ‘mucking in’ and helping out at ground-roots level, Jan is also able to offer a listening
ear whenever others are in need of support. Jan is a leader by example, always prepared to help
and never expecting acknowledgement or praise. She always manages to deal with each new
challenge with a mixture of sound judgement and a delightful sense of humour.
With the awarding of this Civic Award we recognise Jan’s unstoppable energy and
enthusiasm, her strong leadership and her unwavering commitment to the organisations she
is involved with.
Shirley Winikerei
As Community Resource Coordinator and Advocate for Foetal Alcohol Support Trust, Shirley
Winikerei has spent eighteen years supporting those living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder (FASD).
Over this time she has educated a number of local body and central government
politicians in this major health and social problem.
As a result of her determined efforts there is now a growing awareness of the seriousness of
FASD and the need for our health, education and social service agencies to be resourced to
assist those who live with the condition. The consequences of regular drinking combined with
pregnancy are frequently tragic and last for a lifetime.
Until recently, Shirley’s work to raise awareness of the problem and provide assistance has
seldom been acknowledged. A tireless worker, Shirley’s passion and commitment are both
humbling and inspiring. Many people half her age would struggle to sustain such an energetic
approach to a cause, especially when confronted by widespread ignorance and apathy.
Several of Shirley’s testimonials are actually from outside the Hamilton area, highlighting her
singlehanded and determined efforts to promote awareness of FASD and provide support for
families in our community and throughout the rest of New Zealand who have experienced the
condition.
The isolated nature of Shirley’s work is demonstrated by the fact that she established
Hamilton’s FASD Trust in 1997 and it is still based in the garage of her home in Nawton.
Shirley has built a considerable body of resources which she shares willingly, and she has
travelled extensively throughout New Zealand attending expos and distributing awareness
packs.
In 2002 Shirley organised a petition to Parliament calling for FASD to be recognised as a
notifiable disability. Her efforts to achieve diagnosis and help for those affected by FASD have
won the gratitude of many families and the admiration of some heath workers, but few are aware
her work has mostly been unfunded.
Shirley Winikerei is certainly one of Hamilton’s unsung heroes and great deserves
recognition at this civic level.